Author: Babajanian Karo

MEDIATORS’ CALL: MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS URGE KARABAKH NOT TO OPERATE NEW AIRPORT
By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN

ArmeniaNow
23.11.12 | 12:18

The United States, Russian and French co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group
paid a visit to Nagorno-Karabakh on Thursday during which they urged
official Stepanakert to refrain from putting a newly reconstructed
airport into operation.

The airport near the Karabakh capital that was rebuilt in recent years
is now capable of servicing civilian flights to and from Yerevan. But
no flights have taken place yet amid threats from Azerbaijan to shoot
down civilian aircraft entering the airspace that it considers to be
its own.

After meeting Karabakh President Bako Sahakyan the co-chairmen, Robert
Bradtke (USA), Igor Popov (Russia) and Jacques Faure (France), issued
a joint statement: “We find that the operation of the airport in this
situation will cause tension between the parties [to the conflict]. We
also find that this issue should be resolved diplomatically and with
the existing experience being taken into account.”

Bradtke, for his part, noted that during the Obama presidency in
the United States they will seek to achieve tangible results in the
Karabakh peace process. “We will do our best to work closely with our
partners, including with Russia,” underscored the American mediator.

The international peace brokers avoided making comments on one of
the most controversial issues of the recent period – the extradition
of Ramil Safarov, a confessed murderer of a fellow Armenian student
at a NATO-sponsored language course in Budapest in 2004, who was
sentenced to life imprisonment in Hungary, to Azerbaijan. They said
they addressed the matter in their statements in September as did
the foreign ministers of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries in
their ensuing statements.

At the same time, Karabakh leader Sahakyan called unacceptable the
glorification of the criminal in Azerbaijan. He also condemned the
politicization of humanitarian issues and continuing war rhetoric
in Baku. Sahakyan urged the mediators to take appropriate steps
“for getting Azerbaijan to a constructive direction.”

The Karabakh president reaffirmed his country’s position that the
settlement of the conflict is possible only with the consideration
of the existing realities, focusing on the removal of the causes
rather than consequences of the conflict. He warned that any attempt
to return to the past will lead to failure.

After the meeting, Karabakh presidential spokesman David Babayan
told reporters that the Karabakh side had made a concrete suggestion
that days be instituted during the year – for example, International
Children’s Day, International Women’s Day, Holy Easter, Nowruz Holiday,
New Year, etc., – when the parties to the conflict must absolutely
observe ceasefire and exclude any shooting at the borders.

“In fact, the negotiation process has stalled in the aftermath of the
Safarov Affair, and it must be restored some way. And this should be
done in small steps,” added the spokesperson.

The co-chairs, for their part, presented to the Karabakh leadership
new ideas that they said were addressed at a meeting of the foreign
ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Paris, France, in late October.

“We conveyed some of our ideas that can help continue the negotiation
process. We plan to discuss these topics also during our meetings
in Yerevan and Baku,” said the Russian co-chair, Popov, without
elaborating.

The mediating troika was expected to meet with Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan in Yerevan later on Friday and then travel to Baku to
meet with Azerbaijan’s leadership on Monday.

ARMEN NAZARYAN: HAPPY TO BECOME BULGARIA’S WRESTLING TEAM CHIEF COACH

November 23, 2012 – 14:37 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Olympic, European world champion Armen Nazaryan
said he is happy to have been elected chief coach of Bulgarian Greco
Roman wrestling team.

“I received the same offer a few years ago, but I refused. It took
me five years to accept the proposal. I am happy to be given such an
opportunity,” he told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

He further noted training future Olympic winners as his priority task,
voicing hope to justify the hopes.

Nazaryan will start coaching Bulgarian wrestlers during November
26 team practice session. The 21-day- trainings to bring together
22 wrestlers and 3 coaches will be held in town of Melnik. Bulgarian
championships 2013 will further determine the squad for Georgia-hosted
European championships.

He further stressed the need to conduct joint practice session with
Armenia, a week before the start of the championship,

OVER HALF OF THE COLLECTED HAYASTAN ALL ARMENIAN FUND TELETHON FUNDS DONATED FROM RUSSIA

YEREVAN, November 23. /ARKA/. Hayastan All Armenian Fund Telethon
collected over 21.4 million dollars in Los Angeles yesterday. Most
of the funds were donated from Russia, 12.1 million dollars, the Fund
reports Friday.

Hayastan All Armenian Fund Telethon started at 20:00 Thursday and
ended at 08:00 Friday (Yerevan time).

“Donations and funds collected during Phoneathons, gala dinners and
concerts, as well as other events held in Armenia, Artsakh (Armenian
name for Karabakh) and Diaspora within a year will be directed to
constructing community centers in rural regions of Nagorno-Karabakh,
and providing urgent relief to the Syrian-Armenian community,”
according to the source.

Hayastan All Armenian Fund Telethon collected 2.5 million dollars
from Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, nearly $2.2 million from France,
$2.1 million from the U.S. (the amount is being clarified), $700,000
from Argentina, $625,000 from Canada, $600,000 from India, $170,000
from Great Britain, $122,000 from Germany, $100,000 from Brazil,
$58,600 from Holland, $50,000 from Italy, $38,200 from Greece,
$31,800-Switzerland, $15,000-Iran, $10,200- Belgium, $5,000- Kuwait.

The total amount of the all donations is 21 million 422 thousand
477 dollars.

The analogical event will be aired in Lebanon on December 8. The Fund
continues accepting the donations.

Last year’s Telethon raised approximately $12 million. The funds
were used to construct water supply systems in Nagorno-Karabakh and
to reconstruct infrastructures in border villages of Armenia.

Over 20 years of the fund’s existence, projects valued at more than
235.8 mln dollars were implemented in Armenia and Karabakh.

Hayastan All Armenian Fund was established in 1992 to implement the
national projects and support the development of infrastructures in
Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. The trustees’ board headed by
the Armenian president includes respected representatives of Armenian
communities worldwide. -0-

L’ARMENIE INTERESSEE A LA REOUVERTURE DES CHEMINS DE FER D’ABKHAZIE
Stephane

armenews.com
vendredi 23 novembre 2012

L’Armenie est interessee a la reouverture du chemin de fer d’Abkhazie
a declare le Premier Ministre armenien Tigran Sarkissian lors d’une
reunion avec les membres du Club des Redacteurs en chef des pays de
la CEI et des pays Baltiques et de la Georgie.

Le transport de fret par rail est meilleur marche et beaucoup
d’industries sont interessees a reduire les depenses de transport
et augmenter les profits a-t-il dit ajoutant que l’economie du pays
en profitera.

Fin octobre, le nouveau Ministre Georgien de la Reintegration Paata
Zakareishvili a dit que les autorites georgiennes desirent rouvrir la
liaison avec la Russie afin de mettre fin a ” l’isolement de l’Abkhazie
“.

La section Abkhazie-Georgie est d’importance strategique pour l’Armenie
car c’est l’itineraire le plus court et meilleur marche vers la Russie.

vendredi 23 novembre 2012, Stephane ©armenews.com

How to Preserve Clean the Touristic Zones in the Republic

Saturday, 24 November 2012 13:34

The government should be definite in its decisions concerning this
issue because the situation in the mentioned zones is gradually
getting unbearable. This was mentioned about during the NKR Government
session, to be more precise, after Head of the Department of Tourism
and Historical Environment Preservation Sergey Shahverdyan presented
the account on the participation of the NKR delegation in the
International Tourism Shows that were recently held in Paris and in
London.

Prime Minister Ara Haroutyunyan attached importance to the tourism
development and assigned the members of the government to pay a
greater attention to the mentioned sphere.
Among the agenda issues that of conservation of touristic zones as
well as the activities carried out in the tourists’ southern route and
the existent problems was discussed. Sergey Shahverdyan noted that
some bodies had failed to accomplish their work on this route and also
touched upon the urgent need of road restoration.

During the session the activities carried out in the area round the
tree Tnjri were discussed as well. The Prime Minister assigned to
complete the activities by June 1, 2013, and to restore the road to
the mentioned place.

There are some serious problems in the area called `Taq Jur’,
Shahoumyan region, where, according to the responsible officials, they
do not manage carry out sanitation activities. As the Prime Minister
assured a corresponding decision should be made in this concern.

The fact that the places of historical and cultural importance in our
Republic, except to a few of them, remind of trash dumps is not new to
us. Though certain organizations from time to time carry out
sanitation activities in the mentioned places, some visitors prefer
not to gather the litter after them which results in the creation of
such a situation in these zones.

State assistance rendered to land users will be tightened up
NKR Government Information and
Public Relations Department

20.11.2012

Today at the office of the NKR Prime Minister Ara Haroutyunyan a
consultation with the participation of minister of agriculture, heads
of regional administrations, executive director of `Village and
agriculture assistance’ fund and other responsible persons have been
discussed questions autumn sowing and agriculture programs.

First the Prime Minister expressed dissatisfaction over the style of
work the representatives of the sphere have been guided by for five
years: they did not obtain sensible results because the farmers did
not follow priority agricultural regulations mainly crop rotation and
soil fertilization. As a consequence of research it was ascertained
that nutritional value of soil is below the line, however land users
refuse to fertilize the soil. All this, by words of the Premier is a
result of inadequacy of consultations and explanations provided by
rural departments.

With a view of improving the situation the Prime Minister announced
that from 2013 all agriculture promotion programs will be revised. New
mechanisms will be devised according to which state assistance will
get those land users who will be guided only by these agriculture
regulations.

At the end of the consultation the Prime Minster directed the
attention of the present to organization of the coming spring sowing,
noting that the state would focus its attention on expansion of the
area under spring cultivation.

Karabakh delegation hosted at Los Angeles City Council
14:55 24.11.2012

Lilit Sedrakyan`
Radiolur’
Los Angeles

Within the framework of the visit to the US, the delegation of the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic headed by Parliament Speaker Ashot Ghulyan
participated in the sitting of the Los Angeles City Council.
Introducing the guest, member of the LA City Council Paul Krekorian
spoke about the path Artsakh has passed from its forced annexation to
the declaration of independence.

This was the second official reception organized by the City Council
in honor of a delegation from Nagorno Karabakh. The first was held two
years ago, when the Council hosted NKR President Bako Sahakyan. Then
the NKR President was handed a declaration, which was expressing the
willingness of the LA City Council to support the young state and its
people moving along the path of democracy.

Speaking at the sitting, Paul Krekorian stressed that `today Artsakh
is truly a democratic, sovereign and independent state.’

National Assembly speaker Ashot Ghulyan expressed gratitude to the
City Council for recognizing the right of the people of Artsakh to
self-determination. According to him, this is already the second step
towards establishing cooperation between Los Angeles and Shushi, the
second largest city in Artsakh.

The NKR delegation was welcomed by Eric Garcetti, member of the Los
Angeles City Council. `Although the Federal authorities of the US have
not yet recognized the independence of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic,
we are the people of this country and our decision is unbreakable,’
Garcetti said, speaking about the declaration.

`We are proud that Los Angeles was the first to make a step
recognizing the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination,’
he said.

Upon the outcome of the meeting Paul Krekorian handed a certificate
asserting the friendly ties between Los Angeles and Shushi to Ashot
Ghulyan.

Girl falls to death from Yerevan apartment

06:53 PM | NOVEMBER 23, 2012 | SOCIAL

A thirteen year-old girl fell to her death from an apartment building
in Yerevan’s Avan district.

Elen was cleaning the windows of the apartment situated on the 11th
floor of the building, when she lost her balance and tumbled to the
street below.

The area is overcrowded with policemen verifying the details of the
tragic incident.

Child dies in car accident in Armenia’s Shirak

NEWS.AM
November 24, 2012 | 20:33

GYUMRI. – A child died as a result of the accident occurred in Salut
village of Armenia’s Shirak Region. GAZ-21 vehicle crashed with
Moskvitch at 6.40 p.m. in Shirak Region, Armenian News-NEWS.am
correspondent reports.

As a result of the crash, the Moskvitch driver died at the site, while
three people, including a child of 3.5-year-old were hospitalized. The
child died later at the hospital.

Road police employees of Shirak Region along with investigators and
Emergency Situations Ministry rescuers are working in the accident
site. Identities of the dead and injured are being clarified.

The National, UAE
Nov 24 2012

Iran may look north to skirt US sanctions

by Justin Vela
Nov 25, 2012

YEREVAN // As legislators in the United States debate new sanctions
for Iran, both the regime and ordinary Iranian citizens are looking to
their northern neighbours in the South Caucasus, the region between
Turkey and Russia, as a way to maintain links to the outside world.

Siyamak Bolandi, an Iranian businessman who has lived in Armenia’s
capital city of Yerevan for the past 13 years and imports carpets from
Iran, said that even his business has been affected by the strength of
international sanctions on Iran.

“I also import goods from Turkey,” he said. “If I was only working
with Iran my business would suffer by 50 per cent.”

Yet, he said, life is far more difficult for his countrymen still
living in Iran, some of who he has seen try to bring their savings to
Armenia to avoid depreciation.

The sanctions in the works by the US have been described as targeting
everything from Iranian assets overseas to all foreign goods that the
country imports, building on the tough sanctions package against
Tehran’s oil industry that was pushed through by the US earlier this
year. The sanctions have hit Iran’s economy hard in recent months,
imposed over Iran’s nuclear programme, which the West suspects is
aimed at weapons development. Iran denies the charge, saying its
programme is for peaceful purposes such as power generation and cancer
treatment.

Armenia, Iran’s isolated northern neighbour, has enjoyed close
relations with Tehran for centuries. With two of its four borders
closed because of disputes with Turkey and Azerbaijan, landlocked
Armenia is reliant on Iran as an important trade route and, recently,
a partner for energy projects.

In the past few years, visiting Iranians have started buying
apartments and other property in Yerevan. Apartment prices remain
inflated in Tehran, while real estate in Georgia and Armenia is “cheap
by world standards”, said Lawrence Scott Sheets, South Caucasus
project director for the International Crisis Group.

Shirak Torosian, vice president of the Yerevan branch of TeleTrade
Armenia, who is originally from Iran, said the investments began when
the value of the US dollar dropped a few years ago.

“They are still coming over with suitcases full of money,” he said,
adding that these days most Iranians arriving in Armenia come to
gamble. “It’s not just sanctions. There is more trust in Armenia. The
future is better.”

Under the sanctions, companies from Europe, Asia and elsewhere selling
machinery and other products to Iran would have to stop or face being
cut off from the US market. Banks whose clients are making
transactions with Iran would face a similar penalty if they did not
break off relations. And Iranian assets in financial institutions
overseas would have to be frozen.

According to some analysts, Iranian activity in the South Caucasus is
probably too small to concern the international community.

“As long as these small countries in the South Caucasus engage Iran
only at a very limited scale no one is going to complain about that.
It happens to be pretty beneficial to those countries,” says Mr
Sheets.

“It’s not sanction busting. There is a degree of sanction
manipulation,” said another diplomat. “The scale is the critical
factor. If it is small scale, fine. If it is large scale, the
international community would be really interested.”

As pressure on Iran mounts, however, analysts say there is the
potential for the regime to attempt to use its close ties with the
region to carry out attacks against its enemies or increase its
“manipulation” of sanctions.

Though Tehran denies its involvement in the incident, an attempted
attack on a staff member of the Israeli embassy in Tbilisi, the
Georgian capital, in February, was blamed on the regime.

On November 8, officials from Iran and Armenia broke ground for the
long-planned US$330 million (Dh1.2 billion) Megrhi hydroelectric plant
along the Arax river between the two countries. The 130-megawatt plant
will be built by an Iranian company and Iran will use the electricity
generated by the plant for the next 15 years. Afterwards, ownership of
the plant will be transferred to Armenia.

Bilateral trade amounted to $323 million last year, about 6 per cent
of Armenia’s external trade. There is also a security aspect to the
relationship, with Iran backing Armenia against its long-standing
nemesis Azerbaijan.

“Look at the juxtaposition: Azerbaijan’s closest ties are with Israel
and the United States,” said ICG’s Mr Sheets. “Armenia’s relations
with Iran are purely pragmatic.”

The new sanctions on Iran will test Armenia’s loyalties between its
old ally Iran and its new European orientation, said Richard
Giragosian, director of the Yerevan-based Regional Studies Centre
(RSC).

In August, Reuters reported that the Iranian regime was attempting to
expand banking relationships in Armenia as a “convenient’ location
where it could skirt international sanctions. Armenian officials
strongly denied the report, although their adherence to international
banking sanctions against Iran has been questioned in the past by
western officials.

Yet, Mr Giragosian said, Iran looks at the South Caucasus as a region
where it could procure “critical elements” that sanctions have
restricted.

“Many [Iranian] Revolutionary Guard units have pursued over the past
several years setting up joint ventures with foreign partners – front
companies – designed to pursue technical spare parts for military use
and nuclear centrifuge development,” he said.

Such front companies have been closed in recent years in Dubai and Kuala Lumpur.

“There is new concern that Armenia, Georgia, India, and maybe even
Turkey may become attractive for such a pursuit,” said Mr Giragosian.